[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 146 (Monday, October 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2177-E2178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TO HONOR DIETRA LEAKE FORD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 25, 1999

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the work and exceptional 
contributions of the late Dietra Leake Ford to the small business 
community and the entire Federal Government. Ms. Ford passed away on 
October 21, 1999.

[[Page E2178]]

  Dietra Ford was a valuable leader in the advocacy of small, minority, 
and women-owned businesses; she accomplished much in her position as 
Associate Administrator for Enterprise Development at the General 
Services Administration. Under her leadership, the Office of enterprise 
Development won the 1997 North Star Award for excellence and leadership 
in economic development programs that serve women business owners. This 
July 1st she had just completed three years at GSA, and in that time 
contract numbers had tripled with women-owned businesses and doubled 
with minority businesses.
  Ms. Ford was a highly esteemed leader and advocate for small 
business, not only at the General Services Administration, but also 
nationwide throughout the federal government and private sector. A 
powerful crusader for the interests of minority and women 
entrepreneurs, Ms. Ford served as a liaison with the White House Office 
of women's Initiatives, the Interagency Committee on Women's Business 
Enterprise, the Small Business Administration, the Office of Management 
and Budget, other Federal agencies, and Members of Congress.
  Prior to going to GSA Dietra Ford had over 15 years of senior 
executive experience in both the legislative and the executive branches 
of the Federal Government. She served in the Clinton Administration as 
Executive Director of the Thrift Depositor Protection Oversight Board 
from 1993 to 1996. In 1992 she was named as one of the ten cluster 
coordinators for the Transition Office of the President-Elec. From 1975 
to 1993, she was a senior legislative associate for the U.S. House of 
Representatives Committee on the District of Columbia.
  Ms. Ford was active in many civic organizations. She served as a 
member of the Board of Directors of Sibley Memorial Hospital in 
Washington, DC. She also was a former director for the United Methodist 
Church General Board of Global Ministries and traveled and represented 
this board at numerous international forums.
  Ms. Ford held a bachelor's degree from Howard University and a 
master's degree from Boston University, where she was HUD Urban Studies 
Fellow.
  Dietra Ford has left to the small business community, GSA, and the 
Federal Government at large an impressive legacy of innovative programs 
and creative initiatives. She is mourned by her many colleagues and 
will be sorely missed.

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